4 Standout Tech Features Of The 2018 Rolls-Royce Wraith

Vehicles come loaded with so much technology these days that it can be difficult to take it all in during a short test drive. Because I test more than 50 cars a year, certain tech features stand out as either positive or negative and on how they compare with other vehicles in the same class.

Granted, if you’re throwing down $300,000-plus on a Rolls-Royce Wraith, its tech amenities may be an afterthought compared to the car’s V12 performance, luxurious ride and posh interior. And you may also not be concerned that options such as the Bespoke Audio system add another $75,000 to the sticker price, which came to $401,925 on the model I tested, provided by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars of Bellevue, Washington.

Night Vision

The Rolls-Royce Wraith is one of the few vehicles that even offers night vision, and to my knowledge the only one on which it’s a standard feature. The 2018 Wraith’s night-vision system also has pedestrian warning and I found the feature particularly helpful while driving the vehicle in the Pacific Northwest on rainy winter nights.

Ever wonder about the heat properties of hay? The 2018 Rolls-Royce Wraith's night-vision camera can tell you that info and more.Photo by Doug Newcomb

Bespoke Audio

The Wraith’s $9,650 Bespoke Audio system was built from scratch and developed over two years, with Rolls-Royce interior designers consulting with the chief audio engineer on the project to ensure that the system was perfectly tuned to the cabin. The 1,300-watt, 18-channel system includes seven tweeters and midrange speakers, two subwoofers and a pair of “exciter” speakers in the headliner, while microphones monitor ambient and exterior noises and automatically adjust volume and tone settings. It is one of the best systems I’ve heard and particularly enjoyable given the Wraith’s whisper-quiet interior.

The 2018 Rolls-Royce Wraith Bespoke Audio system is a $9,650 option, and worth every penny.Photo by Doug Newcomb

Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller

The 2018 Roll-Royce Wraith’s touchpad infotainment controller in the center console looks cool and is emblazoned with the automaker’s emblematic Spirit of Ecstasy logo, but it’s not much different from parent company BMW’s iDrive – with its advantages and disadvantages. For example, the handwriting recognition function is hit or miss, but I like that the top of the controller can be used to pinch-zoom a navigation map.

The 2018 Roll-Royce Wraith’s touchpad infotainment controller is emblazoned with the automaker’s emblematic Spirit of Ecstasy logo, but is not much different from parent company BMW’s iDrive.Photo by Doug Newcomb

Head-up Display

Head-up displays (HUDs) have become common, but the 2018 Rolls-Royce Wraith’s HUD stands out with features such as junction view for navigation that can help with complex intersections.

The 2018 Roll-Royce Wraith’s heads-up display stands out with features such as junction view for navigation that can help with complex intersection.Photo by Doug Newcomb

Satellite Aided Transmission

The 2018 Roll-Royce Wraith features an 8-speed automatic transmission that uses GPS to sense the road ahead and compensate via gear shifts so that engine always operates smoothly and quietly.

Doug Newcomb has been covering car technology as a journalist for 30 years and is a renowned expert on connected cars and mobility. He has been sought out for his opinion by such high-profile media outlets as The New Yorker, Fast Company, NPR, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, B...